August 6, 2013

Big Story Weather – August 6, 2013

Big Story Weather from August 5: The heat continued across most of the Southeast and Gulf Coast with temps rising into the upper 90's along with heat index values in the 100-110F range. The heat was also over the Southwest and Northern Rockies. Severe weather consisted of 3 landspouts over Kansas, while the largest hail came from Kansas with the diameter of 2.75 inches. Damaging winds were reported along the Mississippi Gulf Coast as power lines were reported down. Wind reports in Western South Dakota came in with gusts around 80-90mph and a storm reporter reported winds in Kansas around 100mph.

Big Story Weather Discussion for August 6:

Surface Map: High pressure over Southeast Texas will bring another very warm day over the Gulf Coast with temps heading into the upper 90's along with heat index values in the 100-110F range. Low pressure moving into the Great Lakes will bring showers and thunderstorms to the region along the cold front. Look for showers and thunderstorms as well extending back into the Plains. High pressure over the Rockies will keep the region dry and warm. Low pressure over Arizona will bring a few afternoon thunderstorms to Arizona and also portions of New Mexico. The West Coast will enjoy a mild day with plenty of sunshine.

Severe Weather: There will be three areas of potential severe weather today. The first will be along the cold front over the Great Lakes and back into the Plains. This region will see mostly large hail and damaging winds along with flooding rains. The second will be over the Southwest. This region will mostly see flash flooding along with damaging winds. The third will be along the Gulf Coast. This region will see damaging winds along with very dangerous lightning and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Weather: Nothing in the basin this morning.

Select City Forecast:

Baltimore MD: Partly cloudy with a high near 72F and lows around 64F.

Orlando FL: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps around 84F and lows near 77F. Total rainfall around 0.25 inches.

Fargo ND: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps will be around 74F and lows around 52F. Total rainfall near 0.35 inches.

Salt Lake City UT: Partly cloudy and warm with a high near 90F and lows near 73F.

San Diego CA: Partly cloudy and mild with a high near 78F and lows near 70F.

August 6, 2013 Storm Tracker Update:

Eastern Pacific Ocean: Hurricane Henriette continues to move towards Hawaii with winds around 65kts and a pressure near 991mb. The storm should weaken as it pushes further westward. Tropical Storm Gil has winds around 35kts and pressure of 1006mb. This storm will continue to track westward away from Hawaii. Low pressure moving into Alaska will bring windy conditions along with heavy rain to Southern Alaska.

Atlantic Ocean: Low pressure moving through the Central Plains will bring showers and thunderstorms to the region. A second low pressure over the Great Lakes will also bring showers and thunderstorms. Low pressure moving into Greenland will bring showers to the region. Low pressure near England will bring a few showers to the region along with cooler weather. A tropical wave that has pushed off the coast of Africa will be monitored for possible tropical development.

Western Pacific: Low pressure moving towards Southern Japan will bring showers and thunderstorms to the region. Tropical Depression 10W is moving towards Southeast China with winds around 30kts and pressure of 1000mb. The storm will gain some strength prior to making landfall between Vietnam and Southeast China. Low pressure moving over the Northern Pacific is moving towards Midway Island and will bring showers to the area. A tropical feature to the southeast of Guam will be monitored for possible tropical development as well.

Indian Ocean: The southwest monsoon will be impacting the region again today with periods of heavy rainfall for India and also Pakistan this will lead to more flooding in this region.

Southern Hemisphere: Multiple areas of low pressure moving through the region. Impacts will be felt over Southern Chile and Argentina with showers and a few snow showers as well. A second wave will be impacting parts of Southern Africa with showers and strong winds. A third area of low pressure is moving towards Southeast Australia and will bring showers to the region.

Five-Day Storm Index Outlook for August 6-10:

Baltimore MD: There will be no impacts over the next couple of days. Thunderstorms will move through the region on Aug 8-9 leading to moderate impacts for the region.

Orlando FL: Afternoon thunderstorms each day will keep the region under a slight to moderate impact for the period.

Fargo ND: There will be slight to moderate impacts today. On Aug 10 another round of thunderstorms will impact the region.

Salt Lake City UT: There will be no impacts over the next couple of days. Look for slight to moderate impacts by Aug 8-9 as thunderstorms move through the region.

San Diego CA: The next five days will be impact free.

Climate Watch for August 1-5:

Baltimore MD: The region has seen temps around 3-8 degrees below normal with one day seeing temps rise slightly above normal.

Orlando FL: The period started with temps around 1-2 degrees above normal and then towards the end saw temps fall to around 1-2 degrees below normal and finished the period with temps around 2 degrees above normal.

Fargo ND: The period started around 1 degree above normal and then fell to around 5-10 degrees below normal for the remainder of the period.

Salt Lake City UT: The past five days temps have been around 1-7 degrees above normal for the entire period.

San Diego CA: The region has seen temps around 1-6 degrees below normal for the entire period.

Major Weather Impacts Discussion for August 6, 2013:

Day 1-3: High pressure over Southeast Texas and the Western Gulf will bring a very warm and moist air mass to Eastern Texas and the Gulf Coast. This will be the focus for afternoon strong to severe storms. Low pressure moving through the Great Lakes will also be the focus for showers and thunderstorms. The cold front will extend back into the Plains creating another area of showers and thunderstorms. The monsoonal rains will enhance over Southern Arizona and New Mexico today, while the West Coast enjoys a mild day. Day two the storm system moves into Southeast Canada. The cold front will extend down through the lakes and Midwest bringing showers and thunderstorms to the area. A powerful storm system will push into Alaska creating high winds, seas and heavy rainfall for Southern Alaska. The tropical feature will continue pushing towards Hawaii. The period will finish with a cold front over the Eastern US bringing showers and thunderstorms to the region, while a new low forms over the Southern Plains bringing more showers and thunderstorms to the region.

Day 4-7: The period will start with a frontal boundary extending from the Mid-Atlantic back into the Central Plains. Showers and thunderstorms will be found along this front. High pressure will start to bring cooler weather to the Northern Plains. A low pressure will be pushing in over the Pacific Northwest bringing a few showers to the coast and a few thunderstorms to Idaho and Western Montana. The middle of the period will have a strong storm system extending from the Northeast back to the Plains along with a new low developing over Oklahoma. This will provide a wide area the chance to see strong to severe storms. The period will finish with low pressure along the Mid-Atlantic extending back into the Gulf Coast providing showers and thunderstorms to the region.

Day 8-12: The period will begin with a storm system pushing into the Central Plains. Day nine will provide another tropical feature moving towards Hawaii, while a low pressure moves along the Mid-Atlantic providing showers and thunderstorms to the region. A feature will also be entering into the Southern Gulf of Mexico that will need to be watched. Day eleven will have a strong frontal boundary extending from the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast providing showers and thunderstorms to the region, while a very strong high pressure area will push into the Great Lakes. A new low pressure will be pushing into the Western Plains bringing showers and thunderstorms to the region.

Long Range Outlook: The period will start with high pressure along the East Coast. A storm system will extend from the Northern Plains to the Gulf Coast bringing showers and thunderstorms to the region. A tropical feature will be entering into the Southern Gulf moving towards Mexico and Texas. The middle of the period will have heavy rainfall extending from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast. A strong low pressure area will also be moving towards the West Coast.

Today's Spotlight Forecast is for Gulfport MS:

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps will be around 96F with heat index values near 110F. Winds from the southwest 5-10mph as overnight lows fall to around 80F. Total rainfall around 0.20 inches.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with thunderstorms. High temps around 95F. Winds from the southeast 5-10mph as overnight lows fall to around 80F. Total rainfall near 0.20 inches.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with thunderstorms. High temps around 93F. Winds from the southeast 5-10mph as overnight lows fall to around 78F. Total rainfall will be near 0.20 inches.

Friday: Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms. High temps around 90F. Winds from the southeast 10-15mph as overnight lows fall to around 79F. Total rainfall will be around 0.30 inches.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with an isolated thunderstorm. High temps around 91F. Winds from the southeast 8-13mph as overnight lows fall to around 75F. Total rainfall will be near 0.05 inches.

Ask The Weatherman for August 6, 2013:

Question: What is significant about the Polar Front Jet?

Answer: You may hear a meteorologist talking about the Polar Front Jet (PFJ) from time to time. The reason we look at this each day is that it helps us to get an understanding on which flow the air will be moving along with how fast the air will be moving. This helps us to identify which way the weather systems will be moving during the day and what type of weather that will create for our forecast area.

*** To have your question of the day answered or have your city spotlighted for the day make sure to visit redOrbit on Facebook. ***

Green Energy Weather Report for August 6, 2013:

Wave Energy: There will be slight to moderate amounts of wave energy along the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The Southeast will see slight to moderate amounts of wave energy. The Northern Gulf Coast will have slight amounts of wave energy. The Southwest will see moderate to extreme amounts of wave energy and the Pacific Northwest will have moderate amounts of wave energy.

Solar Energy: There will be large amounts of solar energy over a good portion of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic back into parts of the Ohio River Valley and the Southeast and Gulf Coast will have its fair share of solar energy. The majority of the Rockies and the West Coast will also see plenty of solar energy .

Wind Energy: The strongest winds will be found over the Northern Plains behind the cold front and a second location will be ahead of the warm front over the Western Great Lakes.

Hydro-Energy: There will be light to moderate amounts of energy for the Northern Plains into the Great Lakes and southward over portions of the Southern Plains. The Gulf Coast will have light amounts of energy for the most part with a few isolated moderate pockets. The Southwest will see light amounts of energy as well.

August 6 Weather and Your Wallet (Chicago IL):

A frontal boundary moving through the region will bring showers and thunderstorms to the area today.

Dining: There may be a window around lunchtime to get out and enjoyÂ meal in the park in between the thunderstorms.

Transportation: There will be some delays this morning during the commute. By late afternoon expect to see delays on the highways and the airport could start seeing some significant delays.

Shopping: This afternoon make sure to have the umbrella handy if you plan on shopping.

Electricity: There will be a window of time this afternoon where the a/c will get some work as temps rise to the lower 80's. The area is looking at around 10CDD's for the day.

Yard Work: Today is going to be a better day to wait for any yard work as the soil will become saturated making it hard to cut grass.

Construction: There will be delays on and off today with outdoor projects due to thunder and lightning in the area.

Outdoor Venues: There will be a small window around noon today to get out and take the dog for a walk in between showers and thunderstorms.